Abstract
Sterile filters incorporating endotoxin adsorption function emerged recently to pretreat dialysate liquids fed to a hemodialysis filtration process. Their application significantly enhances the survival rate during dialysis treatment as they function as sterile filters as well as an endotoxin adsorber. Little is known about the fluid flow distribution in such single use membrane modules. We report a detailed analysis of the local 3D flow field distribution in such membrane modules using magnetic resonance flow imaging. Next to pure water filtration representing the application case of endotoxin adsorption from an already pure liquid, we also used the module as a filtration device rejecting for instance colloidal silica. Such experiments performed in-situ allow the quantification of cake layer development and its concomitant redistribution of the flow field. Particularly novel is the quantification of the time evolution of local permeate flux distribution. These detailed insights of this study encourage the use of flow-MRI when designing and applying new membrane module configurations.
Highlights
The prevalence of hollow fiber based hemodialysis reached 2067 per million population in 2014 [1] with an increasing tendency
Various module designs of hollow fiber bundles used in membrane distillation were analyzed by low-field Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealing the limits of low-field MRI with respect to low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and its capabilities when it comes to flow analysis in the module [13]
With respect to fluid dynamic analysis, flow-MRI completed our data set to show the effect of flow distribution on the filtration behavior
Summary
The prevalence of hollow fiber based hemodialysis reached 2067 per million population in 2014 [1] with an increasing tendency This trend underlines the issue of a global public health problem [2, 3] and the necessity for continuous improvements in medical devices enabling the lifesaving treatment. Single-use microfiltration membrane based devices act as sterile filters as well as endotoxin adsorbers for dialysate pre-treatment. They (a) eliminate any bacterial contamination and (b) reduce the level of endotoxins in the dialysate to a minimum and . Imaging of deposited silica particles in single tubular membrane module showed the time-dependent thickness of the concentration polarization layer severely influenced by gravity [12]. Flow-MRI investigation in the field of flat sheet membrane modules primarily targeted on the evolution of biofouling in NF membrane modules [16] regarding the feed spacer impact [17] and various cleaning steps to remove the biofilm [18]
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